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WEEKEND PICK: All That (San Jose) Jazz

Tyler Lamon | Photo: / | August 10, 2012

With more than 100 performances on 11 stages jam-packed into 51 hours, the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest—which starts this evening and runs through Sunday—is like the S.F. Jazz Festival’s intense, ADHD, but oh-so-fun younger brother. Here’s how festival director Bruce Labadie suggests making the most of a not-nearly-long-enough weekend.

HEAT UP: Head for the Blues Stage, a relaxing outdoor venue that's the place to hear Blues, R&B, and country-inflected jazz. Highlights include local favorite John "Broadway" Tucker, a blues traditionalist and powerful vocalist (Sunday at 1:30 p.m.), and the Kyle Rowland Band, whose harmonica-prodigy front man is still a teenager.

COOL OFF: Check out the Swing Stage, at the air-conditioned Theater on San Pedro Square. Along with a full schedule of swing-dance lessons, the performers include Sons of Jubal (Friday at 7 p.m.), the South Bay Big Jazz Band (Saturday at 10 p.m.) and a musical tribue to jazz great Ethel Waters called "Sweet Mama String Bean" (Sundary at 5 p.m.)

DON'T MISS: Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys. Fronted by a dynamic fiddler from New Orleans, this group is sure to satisfy a variety of musical cravings. (Saturday at noon on the Main Stage and 5:30 p.m. on the Blues Stage)